Hello wonderful people! It’s been a tad longer between posts this time because school/midterm season/papers are all coming at me really hard right now. But I had a little down time on this beautiful Sunday morning to share this new look with you guys!

It’s most definitely getting a lot colder here, and I’m so sad that my beautiful green ivy wall won’t last forever! The heat in our house has turned on, so that means it’s time to get serious about the sweaters.

I love this geometric sweater I found at Urban Outfitters – I purposefully bought a size up from what I usually wear so it could be roomy and comfy. I love that coral pop of color (even in the fall I like to at least have a little color going on!) and my J. Crew quilted vest went perfectly with the creamy stitching in the sweater.

I treated myself to these Minnetonka moccasins at the end of last year and they always make me so happy when I’m walking to class. The fringe has beautiful movement – I always love days when I wear these.

Life updates: There are so many of them that I think I’ll have to break them up into different sections!

Ultimate frisbee: So far, my team has competed in two different tournaments this fall, one in Milwaukee and one in Iowa. Tournament weekends are my favorite because I love getting out of the “Northwestern bubble” and being able to focus an entire weekend on my sport and not my mountain of work. I also love traveling with my teammates/best friends – they never fail to put a smile on my face. This past tournament in Ames, Iowa had such beautiful weather! I’m going to miss that when I’m freezing my toes off in the winter.

This is me and my friend S’More! (We all have nicknames on the team – mine is Skittles. Maybe I’ll tell the story someday on here!)

My new portfolio: Here’s a link to my brand new design portfolio! I use this to show current/potential design clients my work and *hopefully* to impress a company enough with my design skills to get an internship this summer. Updates on the search hopefully coming soon. Feel free to check it out and of course let me know if you have a design project!

Project Scare: This past Halloweekend, my sorority Alpha Phi held our annual fall philanthropy event called “Project Scare.” We turn the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house (a frat on campus) into a creepy haunted house, and charge $5 for entry to be donated to a different charity each year. This year it’s Y.O.U. Evanston, check out the amazing things they do for our community here. The theme was Cirque du Scream, so we all dressed up like clowns/cannibal victims and scared people all weekend. Last night was the final night, and I got tons of pictures. I think the creepy clown look really works for me, how about you?

This is my friend Jennie and I dressed up as cannibal clowns. I went a little crazy with the blood, but hey! It was Halloween.

Since I’m the Vice President of Marketing for APhi, I get to paint all of our event banners! Here’s the one advertising Project Scare.

Life in general: It’s been great! I’m staying busy, which is very important to me being happy and keeping positive as it’s getting colder. I have a meeting scheduled with my adviser later on this month to talk about my petition to graduate next year (December of 2015! Literally a year from now I will be a college grad. How crazy is that?) Fall is beautiful (I feel like I’ve used that word a lot in this post but LIFE IS JUST BEAUTIFUL!) and the leaves against the green grass are so gorgeous that I’ve been stopping and taking pictures everywhere around campus.

If it were like this year round, I’d have 0 complaints.

Less than three weeks until I get to see Dylan at the Ring Figure ceremony and dance! I can’t wait. I feel like jumping around my room every time I think about it.

Many many thanks to anyone who made it all the way through this post – this is why I need to post more often so I don’t have to overwhelm you guys with all the things I’m doing right now. Thanks so much for reading, I appreciate it! So excited for some new November looks coming soon!

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~

A few weeks ago, I was watching Project Runway (probably my favorite TV show), when all of a sudden, the need to buy my first midi skirt came over me. The very next day I made a stop at Crossroads (The Plato’s Closet of Evanston) and found this beautiful navy skirt. I love its fullness; it’s a circle cut so there’s a lot of fabric (which makes it fun to spin around). I paired it with my favorite cashmere cable knit sweater I found a few years ago at Bloomingdales, and a cropped tee you all will see a little more of in some future looks.

One thing I’m struggling with this fall is transitioning summer styles into winter – I try my best, but I just can’t bring myself to wear any super-bright colors (besides my Kate Spade coat) or summery dresses, even with tights. Same goes for nail polish! I really don’t like having super bright nails when all of the leaves are changing and it’s chilly – it just doesn’t make sense! I think that I’m going to try to keep fall in fall and summer in summer – plus, that will make me so much more excited to wear all my summer clothes once June rolls around!

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~

This coat just emulates everything I love about fashion. It’s out of the ordinary, so it makes me pop when I walk down the street (in a good way). It’s simple but beautiful – the length and cut is beyond perfection. And it has a bow. What else could I wish for? I’m so excited to wear this around campus more once it gets a little chillier, but I am terrified of getting it dirty. It’s my prized posession – I could never forgive myself if something happened to this coat.

Life updates: I just launched my brand new design portfolio on ProSite! Definitely check it out – I’m going to start applying to a lot of internships soon and I wanted my portfolio to look and feel just as professional as I have become. I’m doing a lot of freelance design (hit me up if you need anything). I’ve done a few media kits and marketing materials for people, and it’s so strange to actually be doing what I love for a substantial amount of money. I’m always a little surprised when I get a check in the mail. Hopefully someday I get to work at a place that I love just as much as I love freelancing!

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~

Fall is (semi) here! I had originally paired this look with a jacket, but I realized as soon as I went outside that I really didn’t need it. It’s been in the high 50s/low 60s in Evanston recently, and that is a confusing time when it comes to choosing your outfit for the day. So this look is a little “how-to” in transitioning a summer piece to early fall.

You guys have seen this dress before here – but it looks completely different with this fall styling. The deep red of the scarf (which was a gift from Dylan! He studied abroad in Morocco and brought it back for me!) and the olive green of the socks tone down the preppy, summery stripes of the dress. My Vince Camuto lace-up heels add a little twist (I love how they’re basically heels but they’re comfy enough to wear to class.)

The sparkly deep brown leather bracelet and my go-to Forever 21 sunglasses added the finishing touches. What do you think?

Life updates: I’m going to my ultimate frisbee team’s first tournament of the season this weekend! We’re leaving for Milwaukee tonight (thank god it’s a sub-2-hour road trip) and I couldn’t be any more excited. There’s something awesome about leaving campus – people call it the “Northwestern Bubble” and that is such an accurate statement. Getting away from that bubble helps me leave my problems, stresses, and especially homework behind and allows me to focus on playing well and achieving my goals for the weekend.

Although this may not make sense to you guys if you’re not familiar with frisbee, my goals this weekend are to make a successful pull in a game, remember and use the handler sets accurately, and throw/complete a huck. I’ll try to get some pictures from the weekend for you guys, but for now, here’s a picture my sorority took with our poster (made by yours truly) this past week for Women’s Empowerment Week! Can you spot me and my huge scarf?

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~

I have been inspired by one of my very good friends (and my little in my sorority), Erica, to start wearing hats like these. I’m not even sure what to call them, but wide-brimmed fedora sounded best so that’s what I’m going for. I wanted the look to center around the hat, so I chose my dark red high-wasited jeans and a feminine yet professional black & white top.

These shoes are one of my greater shopping success stories – I found them on an 80% off rack at Dillard’s and snagged them for $15! To be honest, they’re actually pretty uncomfortable, but I love how they’re nude and black, which means that they match pretty much any outfit I put on. I’m also all about the ankle strap right now – it’s such a classic element.

Life updates: I officially have a new obsession: barre fitness classes! Alpha Phi had a day at Pure Barre in downtown evanston for 25 girls, and I tagged along because I wanted to try something new. I loved the class, and I decided to sign up for 5 weeks of unlimited classes which I am definitely going to make the most of. I’ve scheduled the classes for the mornings before I have real class at 11am, and waking up early/the amazing workout has made the last few days SO awesome! It is such a positive way to start my days, and I always feel really energized when I leave. I’m really excited to have this routine as part of my life, and I’m even more excited to get toned #basic. I can’t wait to write a post about it!

Classes are going well, my co-design editor on STITCH just picked our new group of design team members, and we have a frisbee tournament in Milwaukee this weekend! There are so many cool things to look forward to, and time is flying by.

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~

I’ve wanted to style my navy pencil skirt for a blog post for so long – and I finally did it! I found this brand-less skirt for $3 at Goodwill (one of my finer steals, I must say). It fits me perfectly, which is hard to find in pencil skirts for me since I have larger hips and a smaller waist. I paired the skirt with my PacSun cropped tee, which adds a bit of youthfulness to an otherwise professional looking pencil skirt.

Black accessories really complemented this look, so I went for black tights (they’re sweater-tights so they’re super warm and comfy!) and my black wedge ankle booties. The gold in the bracelet brings out some of the pattern of the top, and of course my go-to sunnies add the finishing touch.

I love the leaves on the ground! Fall is finally here!

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~

And that means that I can finally post my “Très Chic Tuesday” outfit! Recently around Evanston it’s been pretty warm – like high 60s, low 70s warm – so that means less fall style (it will come!) and more summery looks. I know that it will get cold pretty soon though – today is rainy and disgusting so maybe that means more sweater weather in my near future?

I was returning something at the mall when I saw this shirt on a mannequin in the window of Express. I had to run inside and find it in my size, and I also found there another shirt that said “Casual Friday” so I snagged them both. Another great find were these Aldo shoes – they were already really cheap at Crossroads but they were also half off, so I ended up paying $9 for the pair of them. Every girl needs a good pair of nude pumps, right?

Life updates: STITCH, the fashion magazine of which I’m the co-design editor, had its info session last night for potential new staffers! It was so weird to be in the position of someone who had the power to decide who will be on the design team or not, because up until this point I’ve been the applicant! A lot of really cool people came up to talk to me and my co-editor Drew, and I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s applications.

Also, President Obama is coming to Northwestern this thursday to speak! I’m really really excited, and I’m hoping that I’m able to get to see him in person (although he’s giving his speech in a rather small auditorium). If anything, I’ll get to see it on a screen somewhere on campus!

Classes are going really well, and as things are picking up speed I’m finding myself falling into a rhythm of class, practice, and meetings for APhi and STITCH. I’m definitely making a lot of time for myself though, and I’m halfway through the latest season of Project Runway (major style inspiration going on there) and am almost done with Modern Family! As always, looking forward to Ring Figure at VMI when I get to see Dylan next (:

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~

This is the moment I’ve been waiting for: my first fall style post! Since I’ve been back on campus I’ve aggressively dressed for the fall – this means full on sweater/vest/leggings/boots and everything in between. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) it has been pretty warm during the days here, so I’ve ended up getting too hot in the middle of the day with my fall getup on!

This is one look that is going to work for me a little later on in the fall once it gets a bit chillier. I found this sweater two summers ago while I was working at Plato’s, and grabbed it for around $16 (obviously waaay way cheaper than the MSRP). The vest I found at the J. Crew Factory Outlet near my house back home in Orlando after frantically calling every store I could reach. It pretty much goes with everything (and is in really high demand after they restocked it this year) so I’m glad I snagged it when it first came out.

I paired the sweater and vest with one of my favorite pairs of leggings from Forever 21 – they’re embellished with small gold dots (not sequins) that don’t fall off in the wash! I’m always looking for ways to wear cute bottoms during the winter (y’all will see… I have a problem with wearing my black Lululemon leggings way too often).

I chose my leather booties that I found at Plato’s, my simple gold monogram necklace and my Kate Spade gold pretzel earrings to finish up the look. This outfit has a lot going on in the main pieces so I wanted the jewelry to be a little more understated.

My pride and joy this year (also my happy-junior-year gift to myself) is my brand new monogrammed school bag from C. Wonder (yes, I shelled out the extra $10 for the monogram because why not? #treatyoself). I’ve only recently started looking at their site, and I love everything they offer! I was actually inspired by Madison Lane, another fashion blogger who has the most adorable style blog. You guys should definitely check it out!

More exciting news: now that I am no longer at home, I have a new photographer! Her name is Alix, and I met her through STITCH, Northwestern’s fashion magazine for which we are both on the exec board (she is the photography editor). I am so lucky to have her photograph my outfits because she really understands fashion well and is an incredibly skilled portrait and fashion photographer. You should definitely check out her website and go like her on Facebook!

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~

I can’t believe that this is my last summer look! I brought a few pairs of shorts with me when I moved in to college last week, and I already know that I’m never going to wear them, but somehow it makes me feel like home to have the option (although it’s gonna get hella cold soon).

I borrowed this tank from my bestie Marci. She is the hands down queen of finding deals – this tank could totally go for $60 at Abercrombie & Fitch but she snagged it for super-cheap at T. J. Maxx. I found these shorts at Plato’s – they’re a little too short for real life so they’re perfect for the beach! I love the destroyed edges (they’re so soft).

Lol. Sunburn.

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~

I have a couple more outfit posts to do for you before I launch into fall style (in full force!) This is my beautiful best friend Marci, and I am so excited to feature her on the blog! This and the next shoot you guys will see were done at Marci’s beach house at New Smyrna Beach over Labor Day weekend.

Marci’s style is definitely different from mine – she loves classic silhouettes and deep jewel tones like navy and dark red (they match her hair so well). This emerald dress is so fun; it’s classy and polished but has some personality with the deep cross back. Marci carries that theme into the rest of the outfit with her super-high thick-strapped criss cross wedges, which look as comfortable as they do high-class.

That weekend was amazing, and it seems like just yesterday we were hanging out on the beach reading our Cosmos and talking about how crazy it is that we’re both juniors this year (where has college gone??). Marci and I have known each other since seventh grade, so we’ve been through it all together (and by all, I mean gaucho pants, braces, middle school drama, and the Aeropostale phase. We’ve all been there). She’s a junior at the University of Florida (GO GATA) and is doing awesome things as a Telecommunications major. Marci is the brunette to my blonde (and probably the most hilarious person I’ve ever met. Dylan and I want her to get her own sassy comedy show).

This is Marci’s dog Savannah (but really Nanners), who is generally adorable and loves tennis balls.

Life updates: So much has happened since I last posted! I’ve completely moved in to my Alpha Phi for my second year living there and my junior year of school at NU! I’m graduating two quarters early after I go on my Journalism Residency, which means that this is my last year physically on campus taking classes. Which is the weirdest thing in the world.

Classes haven’t started yet (they start on Tuesday) but I’ve read over my syllabi and I’m so excited to get started. I’m taking a lot of gender studies-type classes this quarter in addition to a journalism class called Media Design, which is totally up my alley – I’m so excited about it.

I’m also really pumped to continue taking pictures and doing posts on this blog! I am promising myself and you guys right now that I won’t let it get away from me – I have lots of free time at school and I’m going to really stay on top of things so I have lots of time to create awesome content for you guys. I have a new photographer (my friend Alix) who works with me on STITCH (NU’s fashion magazine – check out our latest issue! I’m one of the design editors and I did a LOT of the spreads in it!: http://www.stitchfashion.com/wildcat-welcome-week-2014-issue/).

I hope all you NU students moved in smoothly and are excited about the first week of classes! See you around!

~ follow me on Instagram @style.and.sunshine for new looks, fashion & beauty picks, and little glimpses into my life ~